Letters to the editor: 08-23-17

Wednesday

Aug 23, 2017 at 9:01 AMAug 23, 2017 at 9:01 AM

Contributed Content

Misunderstanding and mayhem

Listening with respect and an open mind is an art, a lost art for many. The shameful display by the media during our President's remarks and statements regarding the violent confrontation in Charlottesville only fuels an already raging inferno.

President Trump said unequivocally that White Supremacist thought and neo-Naziism is dispicable and to be reviled. Straight talk. No nuance. He also said they had obtained a permit to gather peacefully. Freedom of expression no matter how hateful is legal. Late in the day the permit was yanked without probable cause and then the trouble began. Not until they were met by protesters with opposite views were they engaged in a violent battle in the streets.

When the President said that both factions engaged in violent behavior that did not mean he took the side of the hateful White Supremacists one iota. It was a true fact that both sides participated. How hard is that to understand? He was talking about the violence, not the ideology! But leave it to the liberal press to accuse him to be a racist, and aligned with the KKK. Outrageous!

The words of the mother of the young woman who lost her life during the protests should touch the hearts and minds of every patriotic citizen. Hate has no color. As Americans we must protect our Constitution and the rule of law or we will cannibalize ourselves. No exceptions.

Nancy Oswald, Silver Lakes

Hatesville

I spent over a half-hour yesterday listening to the blather coming from the white extremist, neo-rightest, and KKK leaders and spokesmen on the internet and news networks. I have a solution for them. Have them pool all their financial resources and purchase some land, possibly on the Gulf Coast which has a history of natural disasters, where owners might welcome getting out. In addition, some individuals or charity organizations in the United States might also donate to this program just to get rid of them. Then Congress would authorize President Trump to construct a wall around this "community" and not allow any individuals from there to immigrate or escape back into the United States for 20 years or one generation.

Then any applicant should be investigated thoroughly to assure they will be a desirable citizen. They will be required to renounce their U.S. Citizenship and their U.S. passports will be made null and void, and not be honored at any American consulate in foreign countries. They will receive no funds whatsoever from the federal government for schools, roads, health needs, police, etc. They shall be free to make their own rules as to who they desire to come in and how they desire to govern themselves. Other countries may (at their own risk) associate with them if they desire.

And finally, I have named their new community Hatesville.

Rube Wolf, Apple Valley

Stretching the truth

With President Donald Trump receiving praise from the white nationalist, David Duke, and hosting Ted Nugent for a private lunch at the White House (Nugent called President Obama a "subhuman mongrel" and said that, in the context of apartheid, that "Not all men are created equal"), you're going to need some propaganda makers who have your back. Our local Daily Press frequent contributor, Richard Reeb, does the heavy lifting here, shortly after Trump failed to show any real teeth in dealing with the newly empowered White Supremacist uprising in Charlottesville — because, of course, they are part of Trump's base.

Reeb is quick to point out that in the the Democratic party was in the past oppositional to black rights. True enough, but as a "historian" he has to know that the "Dixiecrats" moved from the Democratic party to the Republican party when civil rights became part of the Democratic platform in the 1960s. Oops — Reeb somehow omitted that. And to somehow use abortion statistics to argue that Democrats today have a hidden agenda of eugenics is incredibly spurious and dishonest. That's a stretch. It is the kind of horrible, and unsupportable generalization that we have come to expect from propagandists. Reeb is much more forthright when he admits that "white nationalists supported Donald Trump for President." That is a fact that stands well on its own. And we know that Trump has a simple morality: you scratch my back, and I scratch yours.

Stan Brown, Victorville

Check charities before giving

Everyone has a cause they care about. And with more than 1.2 million charitable organizations to choose from, finding one aligned with your values can be deeply rewarding. While the vast majority of soliciting charities act responsibly and deserve your support, Americans must remember that not all organizations are created equal.

Case in point: In 2015, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), all 50 states, and the District of Columbia, charged four sham cancer charities with bilking donors of $187 million over a five-year period. The New York Times reported these charity operators spent a significant portion of the money on personal expenses such as Caribbean cruises, college tuition, and trips to Disney World for themselves and their healthy families. And they hired fundraisers who often received 85 percent or more of collected funds.

Charity fraud has consequences. Generous donors lose money, social issues stay unsolved, and the needful remain in need. But it can be avoided — scams have common signs. If a charity solicits you, ask specific questions to get details; be on guard against aggressive fundraising tactics; and be cautious if they try tugging at your heartstrings. Above all, check them out using a charity evaluator, such as BBB’s Give.org, which help donors of all kinds decide which charities to trust with their donations.

So, when you’re donating, do it with peace of mind by taking the time to check out the charity first. It just might make all the difference.